This is an editorial on the views of Rikki, author and co-host of the podcasts “Bitcoin Italia” and “Stupefatti”. He is one half of Bitcoin Explorers, along with Laurawho documented the process of accepting Bitcoin around the world, country by country.
On the road again. Directed by: San Salvador. The Bitcoin community is about to gather here to accept Bitcoin, the last major Bitcoin conference of the year, but certainly not the least. Friends and Bitcoin players from all over the world are flying to this country to work together and promote Bitcoin adoption. Who knows how many of them knew much about this country before “Ley Bitcoin” Has Been Deployed?
Before returning to San Salvador, we stopped at the village of Ataco — we were invited to participate in awarding Bitcoin diplomas, practical degrees in Bitcoin, and financial education to the students of (currently) seven public schools. in El Salvador received after taking a course offered by My First Bitcoin.
Less than a year ago, on our first trip to El Salvador living on Bitcoin only, we attended a meeting between the first principal to join the Bitcoin diploma project, government representatives and the project founders . It was a historic moment.
So for us, seeing our first Bitcoin graduates in person is something special. It is a closed circle. It is with mass education that our technological and nonviolent revolution will succeed. Certainly, not only through decrees of law.
Sightseeing in San Salvador
The next day, we woke up in San Salvador pretty grieving – late, rushed, with weekly vlogs on our YouTube channel to edit and some urgent appointments to make. Because of this, we decided to do something we had never done in El Salvador and we went to Starbucks. Last year, we watched dozens of videos on Twitter about bitcoin transactions at this chain in the country and felt confident that this cafe would meet our needs.
“Two cappuccinos and two chocolate muffins, please,” we said. “We will pay in bitcoin!”
Silent. The dismayed look on the waitress’s face meant only one thing: she had never used Bitcoin before and had no idea how to accept our proposed payment. Her colleague came to help but she couldn’t remember their Chivo wallet password. There are no dice. So we went to the McDonald’s next door, for the same purpose.
That’s where the real surprise happens: Even the manager of McDonald’s doesn’t remember the Chivo app’s password. Less than a year ago, the same facility was illuminated.”pay for your burgers with bitcoins!‘ signal. Unbelievable.
We remember that restaurant auto pay can generate a bitcoin QR code without asking for any password and we asked the staff to try it out. It worked! But what a struggle.
Education is everything.
The day before, we saw the final test of 16 and 17 year olds, who proved to be fully capable of creating and managing new, non-custodial bitcoin wallets, importing them into new devices, make online transactions and monitor them in a Bitcoin Explorer. Less than 24 hours later, we found ourselves drinking diluted coffee at a location where employees couldn’t remember the app’s PIN.
Accept Bitcoin
The conference was very nice and very well organized. It was good to see so many friendly faces again, from all over the world. The content is of a high standard and the audience engagement is very good.
The seminar I attended was titled “Orange Pilling The World’s Masses” — as if it were easy. I spent the night taking notes:
- I don’t like the term “orange packing,” though I wish teaching Bitcoin was as easy as swallowing a pill: You swallow it and boom, you’re a Bitcoiner. I consider it a misleading term. Researching and understanding Bitcoin is a lengthy and time-consuming process.
- Bitcoin is the greatest human rights tool ever invented. It’s been too long before “poor but happy” and its price didn’t even matter to me. Prices are just a consequence of technology and the social revolution it is bringing. In El Salvador, where a person understands that bitcoin is also fundamental to their own survival, they understand everything. For me, it was the “orange clumping” moment.
- Which wallet do I recommend to download for the orange stake? It depends on who I’m talking to. If it was someone completely new to the field, I would use Wallet Of Satoshi. The Lightning deals there are amazing. Yes, it’s completely preserved (not your keys, not your money!), but the user experience is awesome. Only two buttons and it’s instant. It works like a charm. But if I were talking to someone who already knows something about technology, I would use Blue Wallet. In this app you have two different wallets: a non-custodial bitcoin wallet (you then own the private key) and one for using the Lightning Network. I think it’s helpful to clarify the difference between Layer 1 and Layer 2. If you want to pay for a coffee using the Lightning Network, you actually have to transfer your bitcoins from Layer 1 to Layer 2.
- In our work, we always have to bear in mind that it is really early. As Bitcoiners, we want to see this technology applied to the world as soon as possible. The truth is that history itself has taught us that this is not going to happen. Think Credit Cards: Frank McNamara Invented diners club, the world’s first credit card, in 1950. After that, it took a considerable amount of time for credit cards to really become relevant. Bitcoin, in addition to being a disruptive technology, is also a philosophical achievement. That’s why a lot of miners don’t think they need it and it doesn’t solve any problems for them. We must be patient and allow this creature more time to develop.
- When will we achieve hyperbitcoinization? I always wondered what this word meant. The popularity of a technology to transfer value instantly and without boundaries? To me it’s not hyperbitcoinization. Bitcoin will allow us to vote in a distributed network, certify in a distributed network. It will allow us sooner or later to eliminate any trusted process. Beliefs are outdated.
The notes worked and the dashboard went great. There was loud applause and lots of praise.
Sunbathing on Bitcoin Beach
Day three of the conference was a chance to socialize as we sunbathe at Bitcoin Beach in El Zonte.
We are so immersed in Bitcoin that we sometimes forget to analyze and really rationalize what is happening to us and to the world around us.
Think about it: We’re in Central America, today’s soundtrack is the sound of the Pacific Ocean lapping against the black sand and volcanic rock of the coast. All around us are tropical vegetation, incredible sunsets and exotic animals. People from dozens of different countries gathered here. To improve your listening is to recognize Babel with different languages and accents. All of this happened thanks to the intuition of a nicknamed scientist – someone who dared to dream too big to come up with something capable of changing the world.
If this, in and of itself, isn’t incredible, then I really don’t know what it is.
The truth is that Bitcoin has changed our lives, irreversibly. And it did the same with so many people who were able to take this idea and apply it to their work or even invent a new one from scratch. There are many such examples here. Sure, a lot of technical people, like developers, journalists, and entrepreneurs. But there are also more creative people. A young man from India decided to travel around the world with Bitcoin, 40 countries in 400 days. The American couple both manage and teach happily. The journalist, who once fell down the rabbit hole, devoted himself to Bitcoin. The driver, thanks to Bitcoin players, has seen a scale of his business that he could never have imagined. Small coffee producer manages to export by getting paid instantly and without complicated fees.
We can continue to list similar cases for hours. These are the little things, let’s be clear. And perhaps they are exceptional examples. And it can take resourcefulness and a bit of madness to make your dreams come true with Bitcoin. But it was possible. Bitcoin works. It changes the lives of those who can seize the opportunity and all it takes is to get that spark.
The night in El Zonte is very hot and humid at this time. The sun sets rapidly behind the horizon. We all met at a hotel called Palo Verde for a conference party organized by IBEX. All our friends were there who we loved. We ate something, talked for a while, and then the music started. There is nothing more liberating than dancing on the beach, putting your feet in the sand. It was very hot, but the dance floor was still crowded.
At the entrance we are given lottery tickets and prizes will be drawn. Someone in our group won a bottle of very good whiskey. That’s the ending. As the amber liquid trickled down our throats, we anticipated a hangover headache. When the music ends, it’s time to say goodbye.
The way home for us meant a long walk on the beach, under a dramatic starry sky, barefoot, with waves lapping at our ankles.
Pura vida.
This is a guest post by Rikki. The opinions expressed are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.
